Electric shifting device for railways.



No. 690,255. Patehted Dec. 3|, 19m.

4 H. s. ESCH..

ELECTRIC SHIFTING DEViGE FOR RAILWAYS.

(Application flied Apr. 26, 1901.) I

2 Sheets-Shun I.

(No Model.)

/N VE N 70/? ZF'IzIy/ZJE'M WITNESSES EYS no. 690,255. Patented nee, 31, mm.

H. s. ESCH.

ELECTRIC SHIFTING DEVICE FOR BAILWAYS.

(Application filed Apr. 26, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Shaets$heet 2.

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UNIT D STATES I PATENT OFFIcE.

HENRY SAMUEL ESOH, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR on ONE-HALF TO NICHOLAS P. VALERIUS,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SHIFTING DEVICE FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 690,255, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed April 26,1901.

To all whom" it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY SAMUEL man, a

' citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Electric Shifting Device for Railway-Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and'exact description.

The invention relates to electric railways, and is more particularly designed for use on trolley-lines and the like and in connection with an improvement for an automatic trackswitch for electric railways described and shown in my application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 57,570, filed of even date herewith.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved shifting device for shifting the switch-point from an open to'a closed position, or vice versa, whenever successive electric currents are sent to the device and cause an approaching car to either continue on the main line or to pass from the main line to a branch line, the device being exceedingly simple and durable in construction and not liable to get out of order.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate cor-. responding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a plan View of the improvement with the box-cover removed and part in section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1 with the cover in place. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1 with the cover in place, and Fig. 4. is an enlarged sectional plan view of the threearmed lever and the connection between the lever and the solenoid.

The improved device is mounted in a suitably-constructed moisture-proof box A, having a removable cover A and arranged at one side of the switch-point B to be shifted to open or close the main track B, as the Serial No. 57,569- (No model.)

case may be. The switch-point B is pivotally connected bya vertical pin 0 with a link 0, pivotally connected with the outer end of a rod I), mounted to slide transversely in a suitable stuffing-box E, secured in one side of the box A. The inner end of the rod D is connected by a pitman F with the arm G of a three-armed lever G, secured on a disk H, mounted to turn loosely on a stud I, secured to'the bottom of the box A, as is plainly indicated in the drawings.

The arms G2 G of the three-armed lever G are provided with vertically-disposed pins G G respectively, adapted to be engaged by hooks or pawls J J, fulcru med on arms K K, respectively, pivoted to a cross-head L, attached to the core N of a solenoid N, held within the box A and connected by wires 0 O with the automatic track-switch for electric railways shown and described in the application above referred to. The wires 0 0 pass through a pipe P, held in a socket in the bottom of the casing A and extending through the bottom thereof. A spring K presses the arms K K toward each other and against the sides of a wedge-shaped guideblock Q, fastened bya set-screw Q to the stud 1 I between the disk H and the top of the threearmed lever G. A spring R is connected with the cross-head L and is attached to one end of the box A, so that when the solenoid N is deenergized then the spring R draws the core N into an outermost position and moves the hookarmsK K likewise in an outermost position,

without, however, affecting the position then inclined walls K on the hook-arms K K to prevent outward swinging movement of said pawls or hooks JJ, but to allow inward swinging movement of the same against the tension of the springs J when the arms K K are on the return stroke, as above mentioned.

The core N has its outer end mounted to slide in a suitable bearing N secured to the bottom of the box A, so that said core N is not liable to move out of proper position relatively to the magnet of the solenoid N.

The operation is as follows: When the several parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and a current is sent to the magnet of the solenoid N and the latter is energized, then the'core N moves inward-thatis, from the left to the right-and draws the crosshead L and the hook-arms K K along, so that the pawl or hook J finally engages the piuG in the three-armed lever G and imparts a swinging motion to the same. The arm G of said lever'then pushes the pitman F, rod D, and link 0 outward and moves the switchpoint B from an open to a closed position to allow the approaching car to pass upon the branch line as soon as the solenoid is deenergized on the breaking of the current, as more fully explained in the application previously referred to, and then the spring R draws the cross-head L and core N from the right to the left back into an outermost normal position, and in doing so moves the arms .K Kalong; but during this return movement the pawl J when coming in contact with the pin G is pressed inward against the tension of the spring J without disturbing the position of the three-armed lever. When the pawl J has finally passed the pin G the spring J returns the pawl to an outermost position in advance of the pin G The device is now set for shifting the switch-point B from a closed to an open position, and this takes place when a second current is sent to the solenoid and the latter is energized, so that the above-described operation is repeated-that is,the core N and the cross-head L,together with the hookarms K K, are moved-to the right-and-n0w the pawl J engages the pin G5 and imparts a swinging motion to the three-armed lever G, but in an opposite direction, so that the arm G draws the pitman F, rod D, and link 0 inward to swing the switch-point back to itsformerposition. The approachingcarnow continues on the main-track line. As soon as, the circuit is broken the spring R again returns the core N, cross-head L, and arms K K back to their former positions, (shown in Fig. 1,) it being understood that during this return movement the pawl J is pressed inward against its spring J by the pin Gr until the pawl J clears the pin and swings back to its outermost position ahead of the pin G The pawls J J are set somewhat in'advance of the corresponding pins G G, so that when the solenoid is energized the core N, crosshead L, and hook-arms K K move a certain distance before the pawl J or J moves in contactwith the corresponding pin G4 or Giwhereby said parts have sufficient momentum to cause a sudden jerk orjar to the pin G or G and consequently to the three-armed lever G, the pitman F, rod D, link 0, and the switchpoint B, so that in case any frost or other particles adhere to said switch-point it is shaken off, and the switch-point is perfectly free to move on the further inward movement of the core N.- p

' By having the flexible-joint connection between the switch-point B and the three-armed lever Gr it is evident that an up or down movement relatively to the box A or the expansion or contraction ofthe materials does not alfect the proper connection between said parts, and especially avoids binding of the rod D in the stuffing-box E, so that proper movement of the parts takes place at all times. It is understood that the guide-block Q guides the three ends of the hook-arms K K and limits their inward swinging motion caused by the action of the spring K until the pawl J or J is engaged with thecorresponding pin G or G as then the corresponding hookarm K or K will swing outward with the pin G or G when the pin G4 or G5 moves out ward on the turning of the three-armed lever G, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 4. As soon as the pawl or hook, however, leaves the corresponding pin on the return stroke, then the spring K draws the corresponding hook-arm back against the beveled side of the guide-block Q.

The pitman F has itspivotal connection F at the arm G adjustable to permit of adjusting the device according to the throw of the switch-point. A suitable cushion N on the guide rod or bearing N 2 is adapted to be engaged by a collar N on the core N at the time the core moves intoan outermost position. A similar cushion Nils on the core in front of the cross-head L, to seat itself against the face of the electromagnet in case of the pawls or hooks failing to engage the pins G G The arrangement prevents undue jarring of the device.

The cover A- is provided with manholes A A of which the former permits access to the interior of the box without removing the cover, and the other manhole A permits of gaining access to the joint between the rod D and the link 0 to allow the operator to clean or thaw the joint in case, it is necessary and without removing. the Whole cover A.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An electric shifting device, comprisinga solenoid, a core for the same provided with a draw-head, a guide registering with said solenoid for maintaining the alinement of. said core, hook-arms pivoted on said draw-head, and a link provided with studs to be engaged by the said hook-arms.

2. An electric shifting device, comprising a solenoid, a slidable core for the same, afixed bearing for engaging said slidable core, hookarms flexibly connected with said slidable core, a fixed guide for governing the movements of said hook-arms, and a lever provided with studs to be engaged by the said hookarms.

ICO

3. An electric shifting device, comprising a solenoid, a slidable core for the same, hookarms pivoted to said slidable core so as to have radial movement relatively thereto, a stationary guide straddled by said hook-arms, and track-shifting mechanism to be engaged by the said hook-arms.

4. An electric shifting device, comprisinga solenoid, a slidable core registering with the same, a bearing for said slidable core registering with the said core and with the said solenoid, a draw-head mounted upon the said slidable core between the solenoid and the bearing, hook-arms pivoted upon said drawhead and movable radially upon the same, a stationary V-shaped guide between the said hookarms, a rocking lever provided with studs to be engaged by the said hook-arms, a pitman connected with the said rocking lever, and means for connecting the said pitman to a movable'rail.

5. An electric shifting device having a three-armed lever connected with a switchpoint, hook-arms controlled by a solenoid, spring-pressed pawls or hooks fulcrumed on said arms and adapted to engage pins on said three-armed lever, and'a guide-block for the free ends of said hook-arms, as set forth.

6. An electric shifting device having a three-armed lever connected with a switchpoint, hook-arms controlled by a solenoid, spring-pressed pawls or hooks fulcrumed on said arms and adapted to engage pins on said three-armed lever, a guide-block for the free ends of said hook-arms, and a'disk mounted to turn with said three-armed lever and forming a rest for the free ends of said hooks, as set forth.

7. An electric shifting device having a three-armed lever connected with a switchpoint, hook-arms controlled by a solenoid, spring-pressed pawls or hooks fulcrumed on said arms and adapted to engage pins on said three-armed lever, a guide-block for the free ends of said hook-arms, a disk mounted to turn with said three-armed lever and forming a rest for the free ends of said hooks, and a spring connecting the hook-arms with each other, to hold the same normally in contact with the sides of said guide block, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY SAMUEL ESCH.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. HOSTER, EVERARD B. MARSHALL. 

